A Glitch in the Matrix

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A Glitch in the Matrix

Released Feb 5, 2021

1h 48m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

26%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237, THE NIGHTMARE) uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory. Leaving no stone unturned in exploring the unprovable, the film uses contemporary cultural touchstones like THE MATRIX, interviews with real people shrouded in digital avatars, and a wide array of voices, expert and amateur alike. If simulation theory is not science fiction but fact, and life is a video game being played by some unknowable entity, then who are we, really? A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX attempts to find out.

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Critics Consensus

Although occasionally muddled, A Glitch in the Matrix is a thought-provoking portrait of digital culture and its relationship to reality.

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

It's an obvious conclusion that any rational person should have already come to on their own.

Rated: C-

Feb 11, 2021

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

The result is lively, playful, and busy - in a very good way.

Feb 6, 2021

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Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine/Vulture

A Glitch in the Matrix becomes not about whether we're living in a simulation but about the many understandable reasons someone may think this. In effect, it winds up being about the mysteries of the human experience.

Feb 6, 2021

Full Review

Greg Carlson

Vague Visages

Offering some tantalizing commentary on the erotic...

Jul 28, 2023

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Cody Dericks

Next Best Picture

"A Glitch in the Matrix" is less of a documentary and more of an accidental exploration of unchecked narcissism.

Rated: 1/10

Jul 11, 2022

Full Review

Christopher Cross

Tilt Magazine

Often frustrating and uncomfortable, A Glitch in the Matrix demands reading between the lines to find the source of obsession in a theory so easy to either believe or ignore.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 10, 2022

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Mitchell A

The absolute worst “documentary” I’ve ever sat through. So bad i created a rotten tomatoes account just to drag it. Just a bunch of autistic people rambling about video games and the matrix.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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Tim K

It felt like I was watching interviews of people suffering from schizophrenia, not a good movie to watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

Jeffrey P

This review that won't post is a glitch in the matrix.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/26/24

Full Review

Kentucky F

The idea is good, some of the info is fun, but then there's annoyances that are unforgivable. Everyone interviewed is wearing an avatar which I could get past. What I absolutely could not get past was that about 25 minutes in it became a documentary made by and about 13 year old boys obsessed by video games. And it never recovers. One "adult" being interviewed talks about the matrix video game and how cool it is that it goes into the "history" of how the matrix came to be. Not the movie - but the backstory INSIDE the movie. The fantasy inside the fantasy. WHY ARE YOU WASTING MY TIME WITH THIS? It's like listening to a conversation about dungeons and dragons!! Then they interview a teenager from Reddit doing an AMA because he thinks he's a video game character. (NPC). WASTE OF TIME! Why are you showing clips of people who are clearly either looking for attention or psychotic. This movie had a chance and it could have been valuable. Instead it's a bunch of man child's talking about video games and how cool they are. Sad.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/13/23

Full Review

brad p

If Room 237 shows obsessed fans with crazed theories about The Shining, then A Glitch in the Matrix highlights the passion of keyboard intellectuals trying to prove we're living in a simulation. They might not be more convincing, but they're a lot smarter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Georgan G

In spite of wondrous ideas about reality and (too) much animation about those ideas, this film gets muddled. Some of the presenters are clear & concise while others are pretty strange & confusing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Rodney Ascher

Director

Nick Bostrom

Self

Joshua Cooke

Self

Erik Davis

Self

Paul Gude

Self

Rodney Ascher

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Synopsis

What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237, THE NIGHTMARE) uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory. Leaving no stone unturned in exploring the unprovable, the film uses contemporary cultural touchstones like THE MATRIX, interviews with real people shrouded in digital avatars, and a wide array of voices, expert and amateur alike. If simulation theory is not science fiction but fact, and life is a video game being played by some unknowable entity, then who are we, really? A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX attempts to find out.

Director: Rodney Ascher
Producer: Ross M. Dinerstein
Screenwriter: Rodney Ascher
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Campfire, Valparaiso Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 5, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7K
Runtime: 1h 48m

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